witch's hair

English

Alectoria sarmentosa

Noun

witch's hair

1. Any of various fruticose or hair-like lichens, especially in the genus Alectoria (e.g. Alectoria sarmentosa) or sometimes Usnea or Gowardia (e.g. Gowardia nigricans).
   • 2011 November 29, Randel McGirr, Campfire Songs, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 214:

     ... held his clump of witch's hair up to his arm pit. "Hey, look I'm growing arm pit hair!" The boys laughed. Jared grabbed some and pulled it over his lip and announced, "I've got a mustache!" The other boys pulled clumps of witch's hair off of nearby bushes […]

   • 2014 March 3, Richard Carstensen, Bob Armstrong, Rita M. O’Clair, The Nature of Southeast Alaska: A Guide to Plants, Animals, and Habitats, Graphic Arts Books, →ISBN:

     Witch's hair (Alectoria sarmentosa) Branches smoother than in Usnea, with tiny, elongated bumps. Forks in branches […] witch's hair lichens  […]

   • 2017 March 21, Daniel Mathews, Natural History of the Pacific Northwest Mountains, Timber Press, →ISBN, page 333:

     [They look like] witch's hair, except that they have some short perpendicular branches. All Usnea species share one distinctive feature : when stretched gently, the thicker branches (unless extremely dry) reveal an elastic, pure white inner cord […]

Alternative forms

• witches' hair

See also

• witch's egg(s), witches' butter